Summary: The Ministry of Animal Production, Agriculture
and Fisheries, Montevideo,
Uruguay
reported on December 28 outbreaks of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) among
backyard domestic rabbits in suburban areas of the city of Montevideo, and
in adjacent areas in the departments of Canelones and San Jose. Total number
of animals affected was 4,689 on 45 premises, with 2,820 deaths. Control
measures include culling of sick rabbits, disinfection of affected premises,
vector control, and a ban on rabbit movement. This is the first report of
RHD in
Uruguay
and in South America.

Uruguay
produced and exported small amounts of rabbit meat in 2002 and 2003, accounting
for less than 0.1% of world production and about 1% of world exports.
Uruguay
did not export any live rabbits or rabbit skins in 2002 or 2003.

The
US
did not import any live rabbits or rabbit products from
Uruguay
in 2003 or through October 2004. Neither
Mexico
nor
Canada
imported any live rabbits or rabbit products from
Uruguay
in 2003 or through September 2004.

How extensive isRHDin Uruguay, and what was Uruguay’s disease status prior to the outbreak?

The Ministry of Animal Production,
Agriculture and Fisheries, Montevideo, Uruguay
reported on December 28 outbreaks of RHD among backyard domestic rabbits
in suburban areas of the city of Montevideo, and in adjacent areas in the
departments of Canelones and San Jose (see map). Clinical signs included
sudden death, depression, nervous signs, and bleeding from the mouth and
nostrils. Diagnostic tests included post-mortem and histopathological examination. Total
number of animals affected was 4,689 on 45 premises, with 2,820 deaths. Control
measures included culling of the remaining sick rabbits (1,869), disinfection
of premises and equipment, spraying of insecticide, control of rodents and
birds, burning and burying of dead rabbits, feedstuff, skins and feces, and
recommendations to prevent gatherings of rabbit producers and related persons. Vaccine
will be imported and applied in at-risk areas; however, not in commercial
rabbit farms unless necessary. In addition, there is a ban on the movement
of rabbits to other establishments and slaughterhouses and exports of rabbits
and by-products were suspended.

This is the first report of
RHD in Uruguay
and in South America. The only countries in the
Americas
to have reported outbreaks of RHD in the past are
Mexico
,
Cuba
, and the
US
.

Source: OIE Disease Information Report; OIE Handistatus
II

What is Uruguay’s place in the international market for rabbits and rabbit products?

Uruguay
produced 390 metric tons (Mt) of rabbit meat in both 2002 and 2003, accounting
for less than 0.1 % of world production. In 2002,
Uruguay
exported 312 Mt of rabbit meat valued at $1,093,000, accounting for 0.8 %
of world exports. In 2003 rabbit meat exports dropped to 185 Mt with a value
of $680,000.
Uruguay
did not export any live rabbits or rabbit skins in 2002 or 2003. Information
on rabbit stocks in
Uruguay
was not available.

Source: United Nations FAO

What are the US imports of rabbits or rabbit products from Uruguay?

The
US
did not import any live rabbits or rabbit products from
Uruguay
in 2003 or through October 2004. Neither
Mexico
nor
Canada
imported any live rabbits or rabbit products from
Uruguay
in 2003 or through September 2004.

Source: World Trade
Atlas; VS Import Tracking System

What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in
the United States from Uruguay?

A total of 47,316 residents
of Uruguay
arrived on flights to the
US
during 2003. As part of APHIS-PPQ’s agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring,
122 air passengers from
Uruguay
were sampled for items of agricultural interest in fiscal year 2003. None
of these passengers were found to be carrying rabbit products.

CEI’s plans for follow up: CEI will continue to
monitor the situation but has no plans at this time to issue additional reports. If
you need more information or if you want to comment on this worksheet, you
may reply to this message, or contact Judy Akkina (970) 494-7324 or Chris
Kopral (970) 494-7325.